Myanmar democracy talks inspires little hope

Myanmar democracy talks inspires little hope

Sarah Stewart, Agence France-Presse, Bangkok

Landmark international talks on democratic reform in Myanmar are
to be held here on Monday, but even the Thai hosts have warned
they will not produce a magic solution to end four decades of
military rule.

Australia, Austria, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia,
Italy, Japan and Singapore are to attend the half-day conference
led by Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who said last week
that change would be slow in coming.

"We don't expect anything concrete from the first meeting, it
would be impossible. We just want people to meet and understand
each other, which will help to bring about national
reconciliation," he said.

At the talks, Myanmar's representative Foreign Minister Win
Aung will be pushed to explain the ruling junta's "road map"
toward democracy which was unveiled in August by new Prime
Minister Gen. Khin Nyunt.

Critics of the regime dismiss the proposal as a smokescreen,
pointing out that it gives no timeframe for reforms to start and
fails to mention opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi who is
currently under house arrest.

But most of the participating nations -- generally represented
by deputy foreign ministers or senior ministry officials -- have
said they will use the conference to glean information rather
than make demands.

"We are here to listen to what the Myanmar side and others
have to say. We are not presenting any views, we are listening to
the views from the Burmese side," said an Indian embassy official
in Bangkok.

However, during talks with Khin Nyunt in Tokyo on Friday,
Myanmar's biggest donor Japan made it clear that if the military
regime wants aid money to flow into the impoverished nation it
must begin implementing the road map.

Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi urged the junta
number-three to promote the reform process "so that it would
become easier for Japan to extend assistance," a Japanese
official said.

Myanmar said in the run-up to the talks that it would not
attend if it was going to be criticized, and Thailand has
pointedly left the regime's two loudest critics, the United
States and Britain, off the guest list.

Other influential figures at the meeting include Indonesia's
representative, former foreign minister Ali Alatas who went to
Yangon in September to push -- unsuccessfully -- for Suu Kyi to
be freed before a Southeast Asian summit.

But the participation of China, represented by Assistant be
freed before a Southeast Asian summit.Foreign Affairs Minister
Shen Guo Sang, lends weight to the talks as it is Myanmar's main
trading partner and one of its few international allies.

Human rights activists remain skeptical that the junta intends
to embark on reforms or give any ground at the Bangkok talks
which are being held six months after a sweeping crackdown on the
pro-democracy opposition.